Abstract: A computer-based system for automatic pagination and layout of yellow pages or a commercial telephone directory uses a simulated annealing heuristic to refine a randomly determined candidate solution. The text and advertisements which are to be included in the yellow pages directory are ordered in two distinct data streams representing the order of text and the order of advertisements in the directory. The system determines a possible layout, called a candidate solution, by randomly setting parameters defining the pagination and layout. These parameters may include page breaks in the advertisement stream, column numbers for each advertisement, and an amount of padding or empty space to be added to each page. Once the parameters are set, the individual pages are laid out by putting the advertisements in the next available position in their assigned columns, and the text around the advertisements. The solution is scored based upon the guidelines for the format and layout of the yellow pages directory.

Abstract: A system generates and arranges images depicting volume data using opacity nd color transfer functions for review and selection by a user. In volume rendering, an opacity and/or color transfer function is applied to three-dimensional scalar field data. The transfer functions have different characteristics represented as input parameters, such as control points of the function. The input parameters are then processed to determine images of the volumes and corresponding output vectors. The output vectors can be pixels in the images, or other characteristics of interest. The input vectors are selected to provide a dispersed set of output vectors. A large number of random input vectors can be generated and then culled to leave a dispersed set of output vectors. Alternatively, a set of randomly generated input vectors of a predetermined size are randomly perturbed, to further disperse the output vectors. The output vectors are displayed so that positions represent distances between the output vectors.

Abstract: A system for creating lighting for a photograph generates a large number of mages based upon structures determined from the photograph and randomly selected light positions, types and directions. One or more photographs are analyzed to determine the three-dimensional structures in the photographs. These structures are represented as gray surfaces, to which lighting is applied. The images are culled to provide a set of images which best spans the lighting space represented by the large number of images. The culling process is iterative; at each iteration, the image which is most dissimilar from a nearest neighbor in the selected set is added to the selected set. The images are organized in a hierarchical structure. A user interface allows the user to review and select images in the hierarchical structure. The images selected by the user are combined to create a final image with composite lighting. The lighting specifications can be saved for future reference by the lighting system or other applications.

Abstract: A system and method for creating lighting for an image generates a large number of images based upon randomly selected light positions, types and directions. The images are then culled to reduce the number of images to be reviewed by a user. The images are culled to provide a set of images which best spans the lighting space represented by the large number of images. The culling process is iterative; at each iteration, the image which is most dissimilar from a nearest neighbor in the selected set is added to the selected set. The images are organized in a hierarchical structure to ease review by the user. The hierarchical structure separates the images into multiple levels. At each level, the images are separated into sets of equal size. Each set includes images which are most similar. An average image from each set is picked as the visual representation for that set. In creating the hierarchical structure, a single image may or may not be included in different subsets.

Abstract: Engine speed control during garage shift maneuvers of a transmission coupled, via a transmission input shaft, to a driven turbine of a hydrodynamic converter, the driven turbine fluidically coupled to a driving pump of the converter, the pump coupled to an engine output shaft, wherein engine output torque is controlled in response to a deviation in turbine acceleration away from a target turbine acceleration, to minimize rate of change in turbine acceleration (jerk) during the garage shift maneuver, so as to reject engine torque load changes that may result in undesirable engine speed variation.

Abstract: A feed system for an antenna has a set of inner and outer coaxial waveguides which apply, respectively, both higher and lower frequency radiations to a common radiating aperture provided by a horn and shroud which envelops radiating apertures of the individual feed waveguides. Each of the feed waveguides carries signals having a bandwidth of an octave. Lower frequency radiation to be transmitted by the outer coaxial feed waveguide is applied thereto by a set of four waveguides of a launcher which launches a wave with a desired propagation mode into the outer feed waveguide. Each of the launch waveguides is initially a rectangular double-ridged waveguide for increase bandwidth. The ridging is reduced to a condition of no ridging in the outer feed waveguide by a transition to a single inner ridge which terminates in a tapered star-shaped combination ridge within the outer feed waveguide.

Abstract: A feed system for an antenna has a set of inner and outer coaxial waveguides which apply, respectively, both higher and lower frequency radiations to a common radiating aperture provided by a horn and shroud which envelops radiating apertures of the individual feed waveguides. Each of the feed waveguides carries signals having a bandwidth of an octave. Lower frequency radiation to be transmitted by the outer coaxial feed waveguide is applied thereto by a set of four waveguides of a launcher which launches a wave with a desired propagation mode into the outer feed waveguide. Each of the launch waveguides is initially a rectangular double-ridged waveguide for increase bandwidth. The ridging is reduced to a condition of no ridging in the outer feed waveguide by a transition to a single inner ridge which terminates in a tapered star-shaped combination ridge within the outer feed waveguide.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously creating similar constructive solid geometry G) representations for multiple objects in bit map or voxel form iteratively creates, mutates and optimizes a population of potential CSG representations of the objects. The system includes a first part which creates and revises two identical populations of CSG representations. Initially, the populations are randomly generated. Thus, each CSG tree includes a random number of primitives of different types, sizes and positions. The primitives are randomly organized in a tree structure which includes randomly selected boolean operators at the nodes. The trees are then modified through an evolutionary process to improve the CSG representations of the objects. Corresponding trees in each population are randomly mutated in the same manner to form new trees. Mutations can include (1) changes in types of primitives, (2) changes in a subtree structure, (3) addition of new subtrees, and (4) deletions of subtrees.

Abstract: A method for increasing the storage capacity of a video server which utilizes an array of disks is disclosed. The server is operated so that the continuity of a plurality of bit streams is maintained. The inventive method has advantageous characteristics with respect to storage capacity, streaming capacity, start-up latency of new streams, amount of required buffer capacity, scalability, reliability and multiple bit rates.

Abstract: A system for creating a constructive solid geometry (CSG) representation of bjects in bit map or voxel form iteratively creates, mutates and optimizes a population of potential CSG representations of the object. The system includes a first part which randomly generates and revises a population of CSG representations. Each CSG tree includes a random number of primitives of different types, sizes and positions. The primitives are randomly organized in a tree structure which includes randomly selected boolean operators at the nodes. The trees are modified through an evolutionary process to improve the CSG representation of the object. Trees are randomly mutated to form new trees. Mutations can include (1) changes in types of primitives, (2) changes in a subtree structure, (3) addition of new subtrees, and (4) deletions of subtrees. If the new tree better represents the object, then the old tree is replaced with the new tree. Mutations continue until no further improvements are obtained.

Abstract: Control of engine speed responsive to a deviation in engine speed away from a target speed is applied selectively under closed-loop airflow control operating conditions, such as idle and coastdown operating conditions in response to analysis of a cause of an engine intake airflow deviation away from a modeled airflow. If airflow deviations are determined to have resulted from variation in internal engine friction away from a nominal friction level, the control is applied. If airflow deviations are determined to have resulted from change in internal engine airflow restriction, such as due to contaminant build-up over a period of engine use, then the control is not applied under closed-loop airflow control operating conditions to avoid overcompensating for such deviations.

Abstract: Multicast video services are provided in a network having a star topology. The network illustratively compromises a switched hub having a shared transmission medium and a plurality of ports. An Ethernet segment is connected to each port. Client stations belonging to the Ethernet segments communicate to the associated ports information identifying the particular multicasts they wish to receive. This is accomplished by sending special packets (mask update packets) from the client stations to the ports. Only multicast video data packets belonging to multicasts identified in the update packets are transmitted by the ports on the associated Ethernet segments.